Michele Walsh, Ph.D.

Associate Director, Cooperative Extension Family, Consumer and Health Sciences
Professor, Human Development & Family Science
Specialist, Evaluation, Cooperative Extension
Image of short-haired middle-aged woman in black blouse

Forbes 301A
1140 E. South Campus Drive
Tucson, AZ 85721-0036

(520) 621-8739
mwalsh@arizona.edu

Documents

Walsh_CV_10-25_0.pdf
Research

As Associate Director for Family, Consumer, and Health Sciences (FCHS) with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, I provide leadership for statewide programs that strengthen health, well-being, and economic vitality across Arizona communities. I oversee a network of Extension professionals working in areas such as community nutrition education and food access, family and youth development, early childhood systems, and community health and wellness. My work focuses on building partnerships that connect university research with local priorities and on developing strategies to sustain and grow Extension’s community-based workforce.

In this role, I collaborate with state and county leaders, health and human service agencies, and university partners to guide strategic planning, evaluation, and workforce development. I also help position Cooperative Extension as a key partner in addressing health equity, nutrition security, and rural well-being throughout Arizona.

My academic work continues to focus on community-engaged research and evaluation, with an emphasis on translating evidence into practice through accessible, data-driven solutions. I am a Professor in Human Development and Family Science, and Affiliated Faculty with the Institute for LGBT Studies.

Area of Expertise
  • Social and cultural factors that impact health and well-being
  • Rural health and wellness
  • Community-based research and evaluation
  • Applied social measurement
Select Publications

Select peer-reviewed

  • Walker, K. J., Walsh, M., Barnett, M. A. (2025). Teachers’ Role in Explaining Middle School Students’ Sense of Belonging and Kindness on Campus. Psychology in the Schools.  https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.23511
  • Avery, D. J., Haberstock Tanoue, K., & Walsh, M. (2024). Documenting the “So What?” of Evidence-based Programs: Communicating Results to Stakeholders with Research-based Visual Tools. The Journal of Extension, 62(3), Article 4
  • Walsh, M., John, D., Peritore, N., Morris, A., Bird, C., Ceraso, M., Eichberger, S., Novotny, R., Stephenson, L., Stluka, S., & Riportella, R. (2018).  Health in All Policies: Working across sectors in Cooperative Extension to promote health for all. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 6, 37-56.
  • Pottinger, H., Rahlin, M., Voigt, J., Walsh, M., Fregosi, C. Duncan, B. (2018). Feasibility of an intensive outpatient Perception-Action Approach intervention for children with cerebral palsy:  A pilot study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 36(9): 973-988. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2018.1517847
  • Winkler, J., Walsh, M., de Blois, M., Maré, J. Carvajal, S. (2017) Kind discipline: Developing a conceptual model of a promising school discipline approach. Evaluation and Program Planning, 62, 15-24.
  • Kaplan, D., deBlois, M., Dominguez, V., & Walsh, M. (2016).  Studying the teaching of kindness:  A conceptual model for evaluating kindness education programs in schools. Evaluation and Program Planning, 58, 160-170.
  • Duncan, B., Shen, K. Zou, L., Han, T. Lu, Z. Zheng, H., Walsh, M., Venker, C., Su, Y., Schnyer, R., Caspi, O. (2012). Evaluating intense rehabilitative therapies with and without acupuncture for children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 93(5), 808-815.
  • Herman, P., Rissi, J., & Walsh, M. (2011). Health insurance status, medical debt, and the impact of each on access to care.  American Journal of Public Health.  Published online ahead of print, American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2010.300080
  • Herman, P. & Walsh M. (2011). Declines in hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, and asthma after implementation of Arizona’s comprehensive statewide smoking ban.  American Journal of Public Health, 101(3), 491-496.
  • Beck, C. J. A., Walsh, M., & Weston, R. (2009). The difficult balance of safety versus access: Mediation agreements of families with intimate partner abuse. Invited paper. Special Issue of Family Court Review, 47(3), 401-415.
  • Primack, B., Walsh, M., Bryce, C., &  Eissenberg, T. (2009).  Waterpipe tobacco smoking among middle and high school students. Pediatrics, 123, e282-e288.
  • Herman, P., Avery, D., Schemp, C. & Walsh, M. (2008).  Are cost-inclusive evaluations worth the effort?  Evaluation and Program Planning, 32, 55-61.
  • Walsh, M., Katz, M., Sechrest, L. (2002). Unpacking cultural factors in adaptation to Type II diabetes mellitus. Medical Care, 40(1 Supp), 129-139.
  • Walsh, M., Smith, R., Morales, A. & Sechrest, L. (2000). Ecocultural Research: A Mental Health Researcher’s Guide to the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture. Human Services Research Institute: Cambridge, MA.

Select research and evaluation reports: